Serves2 (first course)
- Active Time:45 min
- Start to Finish:2 3/4 hr (includes chilling)
January 2004
If you don’t want to cook a live lobster for this recipe, buy 2/3 pound cooked lobster meat from your seafood shop.
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1
(1 1/4- to 1 1/2-lb) live lobster
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2
teaspoons
finely chopped shallot
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1
tablespoon
fresh lemon juice
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1/4
teaspoon
table salt
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2
tablespoons
extra-virgin olive oil
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1
pink or ruby-red grapefruit
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1
firm-ripe California avocado
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1
oz
baby arugula (2 cups)
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Coarse sea salt to taste (optional)
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Plunge lobster headfirst into an 8-quart pot of boiling salted water. Cook, covered, over high heat 6 minutes (for 1 1/4-lb lobster) or 7 minutes (for 1 1/2-lb lobster) from time it enters water. Transfer with tongs to sink to drain.
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When lobster is cool enough to handle, remove meat from tail and claws, keeping meat intact. Discard tomalley, any roe, and shells. Chill lobster, covered, until cold, at least 1 hour.
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While lobster chills, stir together shallot, lemon juice, and table salt in a small bowl and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Add oil in a stream, whisking.
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Cut peel, including all white pith, from grapefruit with a sharp knife. Cut segments free from membranes and transfer segments to paper towels to drain.
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Halve avocado lengthwise, discarding pit. (Save 1 half, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, for another use.) Halve remaining avocado half lengthwise and peel, then cut crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices.
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Cut lobster tail meat crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Divide avocado and all of lobster meat between 2 salad plates and arrange grapefruit around them. Top with arugula and drizzle with dressing. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt (if using) and serve immediately.
Cooks’ notes: - Lobster can be cooked 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Slice tail meat just before assembling salad.
- Dressing can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Whisk well just before drizzling.
- Grapefruit segments can be cut 2 hours ahead and chilled in 1 layer on a paper-towel-lined plate, covered with plastic wrap.
- Avocado can be cut 1 hour ahead and chilled, its surface covered with plastic wrap, on a plate.
- If your sea salt is very coarse, crush it lightly using a mortar and pestle or the bottom of a heavy skillet.
- When salting water for cooking, use 1 tablespoon of salt for every 4 quarts of water.
